Cessna 207 accident near Mtn. Village, Alaska, April 17, 2001
On April 17, 2001 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 207, registered N6476H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mtn. Village, Alaska. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions while maneuvering. Factors in the accident were low ceilings, snow showers, whiteout conditions, and snow-covered terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2001 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mtn. Village, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N6476H · no longer on the register · serial 20700536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot departed a remote airport on a VFR cross-country flight. The weather conditions in the area included low ceilings and snow showers. The pilot was flying along the north side of the Yukon River, and decided to cross to the south side due to concerns of colliding with any potential opposite direction aircraft. The frozen river was about one mile wide, and the pilot reported that the visibility was less than 1/4 mile. During the turn, the pilot entered a whiteout, lost visual contact with snow-covered terrain, and collided with the ground at a shallow angle. The airplane received damage to the fuselage, wings, and engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 667 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 136 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 667 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 29, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2001; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F13K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOT Kotlik AK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: MOU Mtn. Village AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 203° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point -13°F (-25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from PASM, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.